Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-03

GODS IN CAPTIVITY.
IDOLS IN NEW YORK FROM CHINA,
AFRICA AND INDIA.

Descriptions Of Some Of the Prominent
Gods and Goddesses-Horrid Grotesque-
ness-The Chinese Adam.Buddhist Viz.
Ein-vishnu's Four determinations.
There are about 200 heather idols In this
city, Of which the Presbyterian collection has
eighty-fve. These embrace idols from China,
India, Mexico and Africa, and include q
sufficient variety to satisfy the most pro-
nounced heather. A heather god doesn't
pride himself on his beauty, but relies ON his
horrid grotesqueness to send n chill down tho
backbone of his devotees. One OF the three
Mexican idols is of wood The sculptor evil
IDENTIFY used jack knife, and gave the idol
great angularity in all directions especially
at the knee and elbow joints. The arms meet
In front without the intervention of hands
The body is very long and the face utterly
wishout expression. Another Mexican speci-
men resembles the old Aztec deities, with
heavy masses of stone carving about the head,
stern expression in the face, and vigorous
ucliness strongly predominant in every feat
ure. The third of the Mexican gods is of
wood and resembles coal HEAVIER with pro-
Fusion of black paint on his face, heavy
muscles and a garment Of green cloth.
There is one African idol. Its countenance
looks like distorted negro face, with lips as
if cut apart by huge pillow. The nose is OF
triangular shape, and the ridge extends
through the forehead to the hair. which Is
composed of braided cords The dress is Of
black and white cotton cloth, and her Shout
ders are covered with cape of red flannel
The arms extend nearly to the feet and are
very clumsy.
VARIOUS CHINESE GODS.
Fiss Sing is the Chinese god Of literature.
He is worshiped by all literary men. he =
represented with one foot on the head Of the
sacred fish, and is evidently as much down on
1t as an American editor is on a fish story.
He holds aloft in one hand a pen, which
looks like a cigarette, and Is made Of paper.
In the other hand is Q tablet Of papyrus.
Uhiike literary men, he is very homely. He
has large ears, and has apparently just re-
ceived some news and is hurrying to get it in
the last edition. His left foot is raised b.
hind him, as if in the act of running
Lui Kung is the god Of thunder. Thunder
and lightning are supposed TO be under his
control, and he is much feared. His upper
lip is constructed on the principle Of a cow
catcher. The nose is chopped of squarcly at
brazen spors His ears are large and broad,
and above them are two large flaps like ele-
plants ears and red as beets He wears q
golden robe and looks generally as if he were
running against a high wind. His right
hand is raised, as II to touch off the thunder.
Each foot has three toes, and his knees are
chair
Prin Xii Wing, the Chinese Adam. was tho
first man, according to Chinese theory. He
sprang out of chaos, and then remodeled the
heavens and the earth. He is worshiped
principally by erecters of meat sheds in
China. He is seated squarely on block, and
holds one of the Chinese diagrams" or anu
lets, in his hands, has short skirt about his
loins and mantle on his shoulders His
forehead is high and streaked with black
paint His ears are large, face fair and his
hair is raised in heavy lines. Dee Low
Koon, a baldheaded benevolent old fellow,
with long tufts of horsehair whiskers, Is one
of the 'Seen," an imaginary species of genii,
of men who have become immortal and in
habit the hills His business is to teach men
to find the Elixir of Life Tor to make it,, or Q
medicine which confers immortality.
TIE BUDDHIST VIRGIN.
Kevan Len is the Buddhist virgin She is
attired in gold, has face of the color of rcd
clay, and is under canopy with arms rest
ing on balcony. Two brother gods, with
out names, have deep black faces, with
heavy whishers and muStaches in tufts like
boys in a swamp of inky water. One has his
eyes turned downward; the others are dis
tended as if he had just ended a severe fit Of
choking. Above the one are strung a couple
of black keys, and the other has ornaments Of
the same kind in white metal Nearly all the
Chinese gods have nicely curled mustaches
When they have whiskers they are iii the tuft
form, stiff as porcupine quilts.
Feen-hau is the Queen of Heaven, and IL
very generally worshiped- in China, espe-
cially by seamen. She is enshrined in every
vessel, and has many temples on land. She
has gentle expression. There are several
representations of her. In one she is seated
in large chair, completely filling it, and has
a flat piece of wood on her head In another
she is represented in gold clothing, with her
hands wrapped in rich mantle She has
large ears, with drops, holds scepter, and
looks like fat China woman. Rum yam, or
the Goddess of Mercy, is worshiped by all
classes. She is huge female in dark red.
with large limbs, and is seated with G child
resting on one knee. Her face has q mild az
preston and she is not particularly homely.
An image of Buddha, about to be conse-
Grated when bought, was nude in Siam, and
cost g. cents in silver. The Sacred Bull IL
in marble, and is kneeling down It is very
heavy. No. l07 of the collection is a necklace
The Hindus think they cannot tell a lie when
this is OH their neck. Sing Wan San Poosa is
god of riches and is a solitary character. It
is said he has given the wealth of China to
England, and he is therefore heartily despised.
Ram, incarnation of Vishnu, Is In marble.
He was found in Sutledge river, near Lodiana.
having been thrown there because of a broken
arm. When an idol has limb broken he IA
thrown away There are four representations
Of the incarnations of Vishnu. One Il the
Boar Avatar, which is looking up, supporting
the world ON his snout He has a boar's bead
but mans body. The Fish Avatar has the
body of a fish with the head Of q woman and
four hands. He holds scepter in his left
hand and is trampling on q man Katch
Avatar has two scepters and is four handed
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